"Did you offer Alberta Health your first-born child?"
"Sperm donation. So they can make as many of me as they want."
Tony laughed, then broke into a coughing fit.
"No, she's a friend of Kelty's." Brett hesitated. He and Tony told each other everything, but the words “she's moving in with me” died on his tongue.It wasn't a big deal.Penny needed an apartment, and he needed PT. That fact didn't explain the swoop in his stomach at the thought of her taking up residence in the room next to his.
"Do you have to drive far?" Tony asked.
"Nope, ah . . . "He had to tell him.It would come up eventually, andit wasn't a big deal."Actually, she's moving in here."
"Here? As in—"
"My apartment. Since Tyler moved—"
"Your physical therapist is moving in with you?"
"Not like—yes, notwithme. In the other room—her own room, it's—we're trading for—"
"Buddy. Are you paying her in—"
"Rent.She's living here free in exchange for physical therapy so that I can get in extra sessions—"
Tony howled with laughter on the other end of the line. "Defensive about that, eh? I thought you were a winger?"
Brett ran a hand over his face. "Don’t give up your day job." Tony guffawed, and Brett turned off the speakerphone, tucking the phone between his cheek and shoulder as he grabbed the strap of his hockey bag. He didn't know why he took this with him to practice since he hadn't been on the ice in weeks, but it felt wrong to leave it at home.
Tony wheezed as he finally caught his breath. "No, this is perfect. I won't have to worry about you choking on a piece of steak or something."
Brett scoffed. "You think I eat steak for dinner?"
"Didn't your company hit a million in contracts already for the year? Plenty of cash to buy Grade A Alberta beef."
Brett grinned and hobbled down the hall. Through the window, he saw Tyler's truck pull up next to the curb. "Tyler's here to chauffeur me to practice, buddy."
"Give him a kiss for me."
"With tongue?"
Tony snorted. "Only way to do it. Love you."
"Love you, bud. Go buy Leanne some chocolate."
"It's past chocolate at this point. I'm heading to The Bay."
"They have more than a 7-Eleven in Kamloops?"
"Asshole."
Brett laughed as Tony hung up, then shuffled to the door and swung it open to reveal Tyler's grinning face.
"There's my favourite invalid."
Brett looked him up and down. "Where's your monkey suit?" Tyler shook his head and started down the steps. "No white gloves or a bottle of sparkling water? What kind of service is this?"
"I'm not helping you down the stairs." Tyler descended the steps with annoying agility.
Every time Brett even came close to straightening his knee, a zing of pain shot through his thigh to his hip. He knew he was going to have to work through it eventually and was already dreading it.He would have to work through it with Penny.The dark void in his middle deepened as he swung his leg wide with each drop. There were only five stairs, but that was plenty.
